April 28th every year is well known as the World Day for Safety and Health at work and Tanzania being among International Labour Organisation (ILO) member countries yesterday joined other countries across the globe to celebrate the day.

In this year (2022), the commemorations were held at national level in Dodoma Capital City whereas, the event’s Chief Guest was Prof. Joyce Ndalichako, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office-Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability.

This year’s commemorations’ theme is: Act together to build a positive safety and health culture. 

 

This year’s event was decorated by workers’ demonstration from Nyerere Squire place at the City Centre to Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre (JKCC) Grounds. The workers in white t-shirts walked confidently while holding up placards with different messages and were also chanting different songs. The workers’ demo was accompanied by brass band from JKT Makutupora.

The marchers were thereafter received by the event’s Chief Guest, Prof. Ndalichako at the JKCC grounds where the climax of the event had been arranged to take place. The event was also coloured by the JKT Makutupora Jazz Band as well as traditional dancers.

Addressing people who attended the commemorations about this year’s celebrations, OSHA’s Chief Executive, Ms. Khadija Mwenda, noted that the major aim of the commemorations is to steer up campaigns that promote safe working environment in order to get rid of occupational accidents and diseases.

She further noted that, this year’s campaign is centred towards ensuring that there is involvement of all people at different levels of decision-making including workers in a move to build a preventive culture at workplaces instead of waiting until things go wrong only to make rectifications.

“When safety culture is deep rooted among all people, it will read into reducing occupational accidents, diseases and deaths resulting from hazardous working environment and hence increasing productivity in the national economy,” explained OSHA’s boss.

As per speech delivered by the OSHA’s top leader, a number of activities are being implemented as part of the commemorations which include; OSH training among SMEs dealing with activities in diverse economic sectors such as mining, forestry, small industries under the Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), persons with disability and students of higher learning institutions and vocational training colleges.

Others are OSH exhibitions, OSH inspections at ministries offices as well as OSH Awards Competition among workplaces that are trying hard in improving the safety and health of their workers.

Addressing hundreds of Dodoma residents and some people from other regions across Tanzania, Prof. Ndalichako, urged all OSH stakeholders (Government, Employers and Workers) to cooperate in building a preventive culture towards OSH hazards by putting in place effective OSH systems.

“Generally if you ask workers about the sources of accidents at workplaces, most of them will tell you that poor working environment is to blame. However, if the same question is asked to employers, the answer could be accidents are caused by recklessness of workers. Therefore, as we mark this day today, it is necessary to encourage all stakeholders to have a broad discussion on ways that could be used to strengthen a preventive culture within our society,” expounded Prof. Ndalichako.

The World Day for Safety and Health at work originated from the former International Day for remembering those of were injured or died at work. The commemorations were being held in New York City at the USA since 1996.

In Tanzania, the World Day for Safety and Health at work commemorations are coordinated by OSHA on behalf of the government and this year the day is being celebrated for the 18th time since 2004 when it was officially launched.